New Delhi, July 17 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other notable celebrities congratulated India’s star professional boxer Vijender Singh on winning the WBO Asia/Pacific Middleweight title beating Australia’s Kerry Hope here.
Faced with the most experienced and highly rated opponent of his fledgling professional career, Vijender carved out a 98-92, 98-92, 100-90 verdict from the three judges on Saturday to extend his record to seven wins from as many fights.
Despite the unanimous decision, it was far from easy for Vijender in the first 10-round bout of his career.
"Hearty congratulations @boxervijender, you have made whole nation proud with victory in WBO Asia Pacific championship," President Mukherjee tweeted.
"Congratulations @boxervijender for a hard fought and well deserved win. It was yet another display of immense skill, strength & stamina," Modi tweeted.
Among others, Indian cricket’s limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, former India cricketers V.V.S. Laxman and Virender Sehwag, star boxer M.C. Mary Kom and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal applauded Vijender’s achievement.
"Congratulation@boxervijender," Mary Kom tweeted.
"Saw a full mch of boxing after yrs. thks @boxervijender for mkg INDIA proud, it's just the start ur hrd wrk, dedication and sacrifice paid off," Dhoni tweeted.
"Many congratulations #VijenderSingh, Thok Daala Tau! Australia ka Hope fuss in front of our Tope @boxervijender," Sehwag tweeted.
"Congrats @boxervijender," Kejriwal wrote.
Laxman tweeted: "Congratulations @boxervijender ??You deserve every bit of the WBO title??Great sporting news for India."
Indian Premier League Chairman Rajeev Shukla also tweeted: "Great Spirit. @boxervijender once again made India proud. Congrats for winning the WBO Asia Pacific Championship.”
Indian cricket board president Anurag Thakur tweeted, “A knock-out performance @boxervijender! Champ, you threw some hard punches! Congrats on staying unbeaten. #ProWrestlingIndia”
“Congratulations @boxervijender on winning WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Championship title. Boom boom those punches,” India batsman Shikhar Dhawan tweeted.